But Enough About Me

Recalling his life and career spanning over 50 glorious years, the legendary actor gives special attention to the two great loves of his life, Dinah Shore and Sally Field; his son, Quinton; as well as the countless people who got in his way on his journey to Hollywood domination.

John Wayne: The Life and Legend

John Wayne projected dignity, integrity, and strength in all his films, even when his characters were flawed, and whatever character he played was always prepared to confront injustice in his own way. More than thirty years after his death, he remains the standard by which male stars are judged and an actor whose morally unambiguous films continue to attract sizeable audiences.

No Cunning Plan

Sir Tony Robinson is a much-loved actor, presenter and author with a stellar career lasting over 50 years. Now, in his long-awaited autobiography, he reveals how the boy from South Woodford went from child stardom in the first stage production of Oliver!, a pint-size pickpocket desperately bleaching his incipient moustache, to comedy icon Baldrick, the loyal servant and turnip aficionado in Blackadder.

Last Man Standing

In a career that spans over seven decades, Roger Moore has been at the very heart of the show business scene. In this fabulous collection of true stories from his stellar career, Roger lifts the lid on the movie business, from Hollywood to Pinewood. It features outrageous tales from his own life and career as well as those told to him by a host of stars and filmmakers, including Tony Curtis, Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Frank Sinatra, and many more.

David Jason: My Life

The long-awaited autobiography of one of Britain's best-loved actors. Born the son of a Billingsgate market porter at the height of the Second World War, David Jason spent his early life dodging bombs and bullies, both with impish good timing.

A Life in Football: My Autobiography

Ian Wright, Arsenal legend, England striker and TV pundit extraordinaire, is one of the most interesting and relevant figures in modern football. His journey from a South London council estate to national treasure is everybody's dream. From Sunday morning football directly to Crystal Palace; from 'boring, boring Arsenal' to inside the Wenger Revolution; from Saturday afternoons on the pitch to Saturday evenings on primetime television; from a week in prison to inspiring youth offenders, Ian will reveal all about his extraordinary life and career.

Paul McCartney: The Biography

Since the age of 20, Paul McCartney has lived one of the ultimate rock 'n' roll lives played out on the most public of stages. Now Paul's story is told by rock music's foremost biographer, with McCartney's consent and access to family members and close friends who have never spoken on the record before. Paul McCartney reveals the complex character behind the façade and sheds new light on his childhood - blighted by his mother's death but redeemed by the father who introduced him to music.

An Autobiography

Agatha Christie's 'most absorbing mystery' - her own autobiography. Over the three decades since her death on 12 January 1976, many of Agatha Christie's readers and reviewers have maintained that her most compelling book is probably still her least well-known. Her candid Autobiography, written mainly in the 1960s, modestly ignores the fact that Agatha had become the best-selling novelist in history and concentrates on her fascinating private life.

It's Only a Movie

To avoid fainting, keep repeating It's only a move ..only a movie ..only a movie ..only a movie If you grew up believing that Planet of the Apes told you all you needed to know about politics, that Slade in Flame was a savage exposé of the pop world, and that The Exorcist revealed the meaning of life, then you probably spent far too many of your formative years at the cinema. Just as likely, you soon would have realised that there was only one career open to you - you'd have to become a film critic.

The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century

Imagine you could travel back to the 14th century. What would you see? What would you smell? More to the point, where are you going to stay? And what are you going to eat? Ian Mortimer shows us that the past is not just something to be studied; it is also something to be lived. He sets out to explain what life was like in the most immediate way, through taking you to the Middle Ages. The result is the most astonishing social history book you are ever likely to read: evolutionary in its concept, informative and entertaining in its detail.

The Lost Continent: Travels In Small Town America

Hardly anyone ever leaves Des Moines, Iowa. But Bill Bryson did, and after 10 years in England he decided to go home, to a foreign country. In an ageing Chevrolet Chevette, he drove nearly 14,000 miles through 38 states to compile this hilarious and perceptive state-of-the-nation report on small-town America.

Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires

Genovese, Gambino, Bonnano, Colombo, and Lucchese. For decades these Five Families ruled New York and built the American Mafia (or Cosa Nostra) into an underworld empire. Today, the Mafia is an endangered species, battered and beleaguered by aggressive investigators, incompetent leadership, betrayals, and generational changes that produced violent, unreliable leaders and recruits.

The Establishment: And How They Get Away With It

Behind our democracy lurks a powerful but unaccountable network of people who wield massive power and reap huge profits in the process. In exposing this shadowy and complex system that dominates our lives, Owen Jones sets out on a journey into the heart of our Establishment, from the lobbies of Westminster to the newsrooms, boardrooms, and trading rooms of Fleet Street and the City.

A Tapping at My Door

From the best-selling author of Cry Baby, the beginning of a brilliant and gripping police procedural series set in Liverpool, perfect for fans of Peter James and Mark Billingham. A woman at home in Liverpool is disturbed by a persistent tapping at her back door. She's disturbed to discover the culprit is a raven and tries to shoo it away. Which is when the killer strikes. DS Nathan Cody, still bearing the scars of an undercover mission that went horrifyingly wrong, is put on the case.

Call for the Dead

This novel, set in London in the late 1950s, finds George Smiley engaged in the humdrum job of security vetting. But when a Foreign Office civil servant commits suicide after an apparently unproblematic interview, Smiley is baffled. Refusing to believe that Fennan shot himself soon after making a cup of cocoa and asking the exchange to telephone him in the morning, Smiley decides to investigate - only to uncover a murderous conspiracy.

The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life

'Out of the secret world I once knew, I have tried to make a theatre for the larger worlds we inhabit. First comes the imagining, then the search for reality. Then back to the imagining, and to the desk where I'm sitting now.' The Pigeon Tunnel, John le Carré's memoir and his first work of nonfiction, is a thrilling journey into the worlds of his 'secret sharers' - the men and women who inspired some of his most enthralling novels - and a testament to the author's extraordinary engagement with the last half century.

The Princess Diarist

When Carrie Fisher recently discovered the journals she kept during the filming of the first Star Wars movie, she was astonished to see what they had preserved - plaintive love poems, unbridled musings with youthful naiveté, and a vulnerability that she barely recognised. Today her fame as an author, actress, and pop culture icon is indisputable, but in 1977 Carrie Fisher was just a teenager with an all-consuming crush on her costar.

Publisher's Summary

At high noon on a cold November day in 1974, sixty-seven-year-old John Wayne faced off with the staff of the Harvard Lampoon on the famous campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The students had issued their challenge by calling the beloved American icon a fraud. Wayne, who had his new movie McQ to promote, responded by saying he would be happy to show his film in the pseudo-intellectual swamps of Harvard Square. After the screening, without writers, the former USC footballer delivered a classic performance. When one smart young man asked where he got his phony toupee, Wayne insisted the hair was real. It wasn't his, but it was real. The appreciative underclassmen loved him and after the Q and A session, they all sat down to dinner. Later Wayne, who was suffering greatly from both gout and the after effects of lung cancer (sadly the Duke only had five years to live), said that day at Harvard was the best time he ever had.

Just when you thought you've heard everything about Hollywood comes a totally original new book. Hollywood Stories: Short, Entertaining Anecdotes About the Stars and Legends of the Movies by Stephen Schochet contains a timeless treasure trove of colorful vignettes featuring an amazing all-star cast of icons including John Wayne, Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, Jack Nicholson, Johnny Depp, Shirley Temple, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Errol Flynn and many others both past and contemporary.

A special blend of biography, history and lore, Hollywood Stories is full of humorous tales often with unexpected endings. What makes the book unique is that the listener can find a completely engaging and illuminating yarn with every listen. Sometimes people won't realize that they are hearing about The Three Stooges or Popeye the Sailor until they come to the end of the story.

A professional tour guide in Hollywood, Stephen Schochet has researched and told thousands of entertaining anecdotes for over twenty years. He is also the author and narrator of two audiobooks, Tales of Hollywood and Fascinating Walt Disney.

This does what it says on the packet full of anecdotes and facts about the great, the good and the not so good of Hollywood. Well written by Stephen Schochet and well narrated by Chaz Allen the only thing that gets a thumbs down from me is the little jingle between each section , this would be improved ( from my point of view) by being turned down a little.

What did you like best about Hollywood Stories? What did you like least?

I found the book very entertaining and very informative, although the narrator keeps going back to the same person instead of moving from one celeb to another, but that's just the ways it's written, but the musical jingle after each story gets really annoying, kept making me jump, as. I listen through headphones

What made the experience of listening to Hollywood Stories the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed the little snippets of info and quick stories of the talent involved with filming everything from Birth of a Nation, Intolerance to Gladiator, Jaws and Unforgiven. <br/>

What did you like best about this story?

Humor and trivia of the history of film.

How could the performance have been better?

Not as annoyed at the voice as much, but "Goodellows"? Narration doesn't necessarily require expertise of the subject, but there were many instances of names, movie titles, etc. that were bungled. At some point there should be some quality checking, right? Someone in the studio who may have said --umm... maybe we should pronounce things correctly?<br/><br/>The music in between the anecdotes to tell you the joke was over is horrible. If I hear the Raiders of the Lost Ark story about Indy shooting the guy in the market instead of fighting him one more time I'm going to hear that stupid little 2 second music clip banging around in my head.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No, just fun to hear the mini stories.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A. K. Brewer

California

11/03/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Arghhh"

What would have made Hollywood Stories better?

A different narrator.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The stories. Nothing not interesting.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Chaz Allen?

Anyone. His voice is horrible doing this kind of narration.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Hollywood Stories?

None

Any additional comments?

I have this book in my kindle library. Reading it is fine. Listening hurts my ears.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

NANCAN

Charlottesville, VA

15/08/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Blah Blah Blah"

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I don't know who would enjoy this very annoying book. The format features anecdotes about the film industry in quick sound bytes. The narrator has a high pitched sing song voice and each anecdote is ended with a quick burst of music. And, the anecdotes are dated and uninteresting. For example, in one George Burns sticks Jack Benny with a lunch bill because Jack was known to be cheap. Da dum dum. No thanks.

Would you ever listen to anything by Stephen Schochet again?

I'd have to read other reviews first.

Would you be willing to try another one of Chaz Allen’s performances?

No. He should look for another job.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Annoyance

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Sean

BELVEDERE TIBURON, CA, United States

03/05/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"A 5 hour issue of People magazine"

If you keep your expectations low this book can entertain you with short 1-2 min anecdotes from old Hollywood stars. Most of the material is from the 20-50s and even as a fan of that period I did not recognize several names.

The production is incredibly annoying--the reader has sycophantic tone and every story is punctuated by a burst of "ditty" music ("da-deet-deet-da-da"). You will hear that ditty about 200 times by the end of the book.

The stories are the sort you would hear from the PR department of a movie studio--not TMZ. There's no real dirty laundry, just funny stories and the occasional "Oh you scamp!" moment, but the author is clearly infatuated with his subjects--probably a little too much.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Lisa Moritz

31/07/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"Enjoyable for when you just wany something light"

What made the experience of listening to Hollywood Stories the most enjoyable?

Fun little stories about celebrities past and present. No pretense no drama just pure entertainment

What did you like best about this story?

It was upbeat and entertaining. It is a group of anecdotes that is relatable to everyone. Nothing salacious just a glimpse into the wit and wisdom of stars we all know.

What does Chaz Allen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice, enthusiasm and inflection. I enjoyed listening to him very much.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it certainly isn't that type of book. I usually listen when I am walking or doing something else. It doesn't require concentration or attention. I use it as filler mainly.

Any additional comments?

Love to see more books of this type

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

James M. Patton

OH USA

19/07/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"The book is great for Hollywood History buffs!"

Where does Hollywood Stories rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would say in the top ten out of 50 or so books.

What did you like best about this story?

The behind the scene anecdotes I had never heard before.

Which scene was your favorite?

Wow, too many to choose!!!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"The Handbook of Hollywood History".

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Raymond Chase

14/03/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"Good"

Well, it's a book. i honestly have never experienced anything like it before and I wasn't sure of the format.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Jimmy Keebs

Roseville, MN

01/03/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"Annoying music!"

There is annoying music in between each story. The narrator also mispronounces names constantly. The whole thing was hard to listen to.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

S. Winchester

Pittsburgh

24/02/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"Entertaining short stories and trivia"

I wasn't sure I would enjoy this book. First off, it started with loud, jolting music between each tidbit, and secondly, the stories tended to be mostly about old Hollywood.

Once I got into the book though, I liked it. The music changes with each chapter, and the stories are interesting. I found myself googling photos of 1940's movie stars just to see what they looked like. There are modern stories, and I wish more would have been added. But it's still a fun book to pass the time.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Gudrun

Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories, Canada

28/09/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"All the stories are short"

I liked this book overall. It was good that there was a range of stories from the different eras of Hollywood. But it could have been peppered with longer maybe more complex, and insightful stories. These were anecdote rather than stories. I enjoyed the way the narrator told them as if you were having a conversation.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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